Shein Under Fire for Using Likeness of Accused Murderer Luigi Mangione in Ads

Controversial fast-fashion retailer Shein is once again facing intense backlash this time for featuring the likeness of accused murderer Luigi Mangione in online advertisements for its clothing.

The China-based company, already known for pushing the limits of intellectual property and labor ethics, is now embroiled in a new scandal after viral social media images showed a man who appeared to be Mangione modeling Shein outfits. The photos sparked widespread outrage, with users demanding to know how someone tied to one of the most high-profile murder cases in recent memory could end up in retail marketing.

Shein quickly moved to remove the ads and issued a statement blaming the error on a “third-party vendor.”

“The image in question was provided by a third-party vendor and was removed immediately upon discovery,” the company said. “We are conducting a thorough investigation… and will take appropriate action against the vendor in line with our policies.”

The damage, however, may already be done.

Mangione is awaiting trial for the December 2024 assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a father of two who was gunned down in broad daylight in Midtown Manhattan. The shooting was labeled by authorities as a “premeditated, cold-blooded act of political violence.”

According to the Justice Department, three 9mm shell casings were recovered at the scene, each engraved with the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” a chilling nod to a 2010 book that accused the health insurance industry of suppressing patient claims and coverage.

Mangione, who has pleaded not guilty, was arrested after a five-day manhunt and is now facing the death penalty.

Despite the gravity of the charges, Mangione has become something of a folk hero among certain progressive circles. In an April interview with CNN, left-wing journalist Taylor Lorenz described Mangione as a “revolutionary,” adding disturbingly:

“He’s famous, he’s handsome, he’s young, he’s smart… He’s a person who seems like he’s this morally good man, which is hard to find.”

This kind of commentary would be unthinkable if the political roles were reversed and it underscores how broken our cultural and media norms have become. A man charged with murdering a CEO in a politically motivated hit is being described as “morally good” while brands like Shein apparently have so little oversight that they’re promoting clothes using a figure under federal indictment.

For Shein, this is just the latest in a long string of PR disasters. The company has previously been called out for:

• Using forced labor in its supply chains, according to reports tied to China’s Xinjiang province.

• Mass-producing counterfeit designs ripped from independent artists.

• Creating mountains of textile waste, contributing to environmental degradation.

Now, using the face of an accused assassin even unintentionally raises questions about whether the company has any vetting process at all.

America is experiencing a full-scale collapse of moral clarity in media, culture, and commerce. When alleged killers are glamorized as revolutionaries, and fast-fashion giants turn them into marketing tools, something is deeply wrong.

Shein can blame a third-party vendor all it wants but the responsibility lies with companies that chase profit without principle, and with a culture that excuses extremism if it aligns with the Left’s agenda.

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